Mr. Lamb is the director of the Office of Addiction Services for the City of Philadelphia. His work has earned him numerous awards and honors. He says his job is fulfilling because he knows he has helped many people overcome drug addictions. “I have had the chance to make people better,” he says. “Every day we all face struggles,” Mr. Lamb says. “Every day we are faced with a decision, good, bad, or even in-between. I like the idea that if we all stick together, we will be victorious. We will win.” “Transformative” is the best word to describe his job, he says. To explain why he picks this word, he uses the example of how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. Caterpillars, like humans, struggle to become something beautiful. But change takes time, Mr. Lamb says. In the case of recovery from addiction, it is an ongoing process. In the past, people dealing with addiction weren’t given enough time to transform their lives. They received treatment as if they had a broken arm: They got some care and then went home. But they need more support at home and in the community, Mr. Lamb says. So he works hard to make it available. “Addiction is a disease,” he says. “It needs to be managed. ... I emphasize the importance of Roland Lamb Guiding people away from harmful choices From a young age, Roland Lamb knew he wanted to be of service to other people. He came from a family of ministers who included his father and his grandfather. His relatives expected him to become a minister, too. But he took a different direction because, he says, of poor choices he and some of his friends made in their youth. He learned firsthand how damaging drugs and alcohol can be to people’s lives. Through his understanding, he realized he could make a positive difference for people struggling with addiction. For the past 40 years, Mr. Lamb has dedicated himself to helping others overcome their dependence on drugs and alcohol. He has guided many individuals as they turned their lives around. He also has been a Philadelphia leader in creating community programs and treatment centers that serve about 37,000 people a year who are trying to recover from addictions. He says people with addictions have a much better chance of getting help in Philadelphia than in many other cities in the United States. 24